This is an artist's impression of the new solar field and tower, set to be completed in the middle of 2011.

(Image: CSIRO)

This is another angle of the artist's impression. When installed, the mirrors will concentrate the sun's rays, creating temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celsius.

(Image: CSIRO)

The heliostats (pictured above, look closely) have been developed by CSIRO and made by Performance Engineering Group, a company based in the central coast.

The size of the panels (2.4 metres by 1.8 metres) makes them difficult to manufacture, as the shape needs to meet exact specifications in order to achieve the right reflection point and the strength to withstand adverse weather.

According to the CSIRO, the heliostats have a unique design specifically created for mass production and are more effective than other heliostats. Indeed, the managing director of Performance Engineering Group, Jon Priddle, believes that high-quality heliostats will one day be mass produced in Australia.

(Image: CSIRO)

The new heliostat field and tower will be placed in Newcastle next to an older one, pictured here.

CSIRO hopes to make energy from solar technology, which can be produced at the same cost or cheaper than that from fossil fuels, when carbon costs are taken into account.

(Image: CSIRO)

Representatives from the Australian Solar Institute and CSIRO turn the sod at the development site.

Suzanne Tindal cut her teeth at ZDNet.com.au as the site's telecommunications reporter, a role that saw her break some of the biggest stories associated with the National Broadband Network process. She then turned her attention to all matters in government and corporate ICT circles. Now she's taking on the whole gamut as news editor for t...
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